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Cases

Habeas petitions described a broad range of carceral, institutional, and interpersonal confinement over the long nineteenth century, including those used to demand due process, resist enslavement, challenge child removal and reservation confinement, avoid deportation, present child custody claims and protest child marriage, and to challenge institutionalization and detention in private and state institutions. As a legal mechanism borrowed from British common law and guaranteed as a civil right in US federal and state constitutions, habeas provides a lens on a diverse community of legal actors.

Our encoding practice allows us to identify petitions in these three categories and to indicate where those categories overlap. In addition to these three general categories, our team has identified the specific carceral charge being challenged as well as the particular forms of institutional and interpersonal confinements being questioned.

You may also browse or search petitions by location and/or jurisdiction to learn more about the myriad complaints petitioners brought before judges in Arizona, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oregon, and Washington between 1812 and 1924. Each case entry includes a full citation, a summary, links to people with a role in the case, a list of other people named, and any sites of significance. Visitors wanting access to full case files can contact the cited repository for information about obtaining copies. Those without institutional affiliations may request image scans from Dr. Jagodinsky directly. The Glossary defines the attributes used to structure data from the habeas petitions. The Code Book explains the relational structure of the data and functionality of the database website.

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  • between 11 and 20 pages 589

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Length of Case File : between 11 and 20 pages

589 results

In the matter of the application of Alice Strauss for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: March 30, 1908
  • Petition type(s): Institutional: convent
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the application of Florence Tinsley for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: April 16, 1908
  • Petition type(s): Institutional: convent | Institutional: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the application of William T. Anderton for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: March 11, 1908
  • Petition type(s): Institutional: underage military enlistment | Carceral: fraudulent enlistment
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In the matter of the application of David Rourke for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: July 3, 1908
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: sabbath breaking
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the application of Mary V. Cunningham for a Writ of Habeas Corpus for Ruby L. Lanham, Her minor Daughter

  • Earliest record date: September 14, 1908
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In the Matter of the Application of Allen Sharp for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: July 9, 1909
  • Petition type(s): Institutional: insanity
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the application of J. M. Kelso for writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: August 23, 1909
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: fugitive from justice | Carceral: vagrancy
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the Matter of the Application of Mary Brabec for Writ of Habeas Corpus for Annie Brabec, Lillie Brabec, Willie Brabec, Emma Brabec and Arthur Brabec

  • Earliest record date: September 7, 1909
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the application of Bertha M. Herman for writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: December 20, 1909
  • Petition type(s): Institutional: convent
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the application of Louis W. R. Beaty for writ of H. C.

  • Earliest record date: March 17, 1910
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: mixing garbage with refuse
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the application of John D. Decora for writ H. C.

  • Earliest record date: March 14, 1910
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: adultery
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Custody transferred to third party

In the matter of the application of Nick Glavich for writ Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: October 10, 1910
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: assault and battery
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the application of Earl Barringer for Writ H. C.

  • Earliest record date: January 23, 1911
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: seduction
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

On the relation of Mrs. Lottie Parsons Relator vs. St. James Orphan Asylum Respondent

  • Earliest record date: October 9, 1911
  • Petition type(s): Institutional: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In Re application of John Wilson for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: November 29, 1911
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: burglary
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the application of Ethel Conley on behalf of William E. Conley for writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: December 11, 1911
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: assault
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In re: Application of D. A. Hatfield for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: May 12, 1911
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: attempted escape from prison
  • Petition outcome: Petition denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

Habeas Corpus of Esther Crandell against Robert Hodge, Sheriff

  • Earliest record date: January 11, 1912
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: contributing to the delinquency of a child
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

Habeas Corpus of W. F. Buchanan against Claude Bannick

  • Earliest record date: February 19, 1912
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: embezzlement
  • Petition outcome: Writ dismissed
  • Fate of bound party: Custody transferred to third party

Nick Mordavick, Plaintiff, vs. Joseph R. H. Jacoby, as Marshall of the above named District, Defendant

  • Earliest record date: April 21, 1912
  • Petition type(s): Carceral
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

Habeas Corpus of J. C. Christopher against Robert Hodge, Sheriff

  • Earliest record date: April 26, 1912
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: fugitive from justice
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

Habeas Corpus of J. C. Christopher against Robert Hodge, Sheriff

  • Earliest record date: May 6, 1912
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: fugitive from justice
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In re Application of Nora Dixson, on Behalf of David Moore, for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: April 18, 1912
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: suspicious character
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

Habeas Corpus of Rose Baker against Chief of Police of Seattle

  • Earliest record date: June 4, 1912
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: idleness
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

Habeas Corpus of Jack Sommer for Dave Rubenstein against Claude Bannick

  • Earliest record date: June 7, 1912
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: obtaining money under false pretenses
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

Habeas Corpus of James Fitzpatrick against Robert Hodge, Sheriff

  • Earliest record date: June 8, 1912
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: burglary
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the Matter of the Application of Sulton Shoenbrum for Writ of Habeas Corpus Vs. John J. Donahue, Chief of Police of the City of Omaha

  • Earliest record date: June 15, 1912
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: obtaining money under false pretenses
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the matter of the application of Ben Wa, for a writ of Habeas Corpus for Tung Kee

  • Earliest record date: July 9, 1912
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: deportation | Carceral: immigration
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In re Application of Rosie Wise for Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: July 25, 1912
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: assault with intent to commit great bodily injury
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

Habeas Corpus of C.W. Skutt against Robert Hodge, Sheriff

  • Earliest record date: September 30, 1912
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: assault
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

Habeas Corpus of Diamico Oct et. al against Puget Sound Traction, Light and Power Co.

  • Earliest record date: October 25, 1912
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: coercive labor
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In re Application of Albert L. Rosenbloom for Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: April 7, 1908
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: wife desertion
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In the matter of the re-application of Arthur F. Mullen on behalf of T. A. Dunn for a writ of Habeas

  • Earliest record date: December 27, 1912
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: vagrancy
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

Habeas Corpus of George Parrish against Capt. Charles Tennant

  • Earliest record date: January 1, 1913
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: fugitive from justice | Carceral: kidnapping
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the Matter of the Application of Albert Sykes for a Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: October 2, 1912
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: assault with a deadly weapon
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

Habeas Corpus of John Schmidt against Claude Bannick (C of P)

  • Earliest record date: March 29, 1913
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: no charge
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

State of Nebraska on Relation of Thomas Sexton, Relator V. John Briggs and Michael Corcoran, Respondent

  • Earliest record date: May 19, 1913
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

Habeas Corpus of M. H. Crawford against Claude Bannick (Chief of Police)

  • Earliest record date: May 19, 1913
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: fugitive from justice
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

Habeas Corpus of J. R. Moore against Edward Cudihee Sheriff

  • Earliest record date: May 29, 1913
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: conspiracy to defraud
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

In the Matter of the Application of Henry LaVerne Risch, a minor, for Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: August 6, 1913
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: child custody
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: New custody arrangement reached

In the Matter of the Application of Benjamin Creel for Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: September 4, 1913
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: cause unspecified
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the matter of the application of Charles W. Gerrish for a writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: September 9, 1913
  • Petition type(s): Interpersonal: spousal custody | Interpersonal: marital dispute
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

In the matter of the application of Edward Blackfish, For writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: August 4, 1913
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: assault with intent to kill
  • Petition outcome: Writ denied
  • Fate of bound party: Remained in custody

Application of Rose Callahan for Writ of Habeas Corpus for James Callahan

  • Earliest record date: September 21, 1913
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: disturbing the peace
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

Habeas Corpus of A. H. Hubbard against Claude Bannick Chief of Police

  • Earliest record date: October 17, 1913
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: obtaining money under false pretenses
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Released on bail

Habeas Corpus of Frank Lagerquist against Peter A. Swanson

  • Earliest record date: November 11, 1913
  • Petition type(s): Institutional: insanity | Interpersonal: insanity
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Released from custody

The State if Nebraska on the Relation of Willam J. McClain, Relator V. John Briggs and Michael Corccran, Respondants

  • Earliest record date: November 12, 1913
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: gambling
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

Application of Pete Johnson for Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: November 8, 1913
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: gambling
  • Petition outcome: Writ allowed
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown

In the Matter of the Application of Frank Davies for Writ of Habeas Corpus

  • Earliest record date: December 6, 1913
  • Petition type(s): Carceral: vagrancy
  • Petition outcome: Unknown
  • Fate of bound party: Unknown
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